By 1907, Johnson had also formed his own publishing company, putting out his own music and those of other local composers. Eventually Johnson would compose for many other publishers. Over the next five years Jenkins would publish twelve of Johnson’s songs. Jenkins and Sons Music Company in Kansas City, Missouri plugging songs and playing piano. He began work in the late 1890s for the J.W. Johnson’s career was stable and prolific. She remained with him until his death in 1950. He married his second wife, Eva Otis, in 1926. No one knows how this marriage ended or what happened to Sylvia or Frances. Johnson was married twice, first to Sylvia Hoskins in 1901, and they had a daughter Frances. In this environment he wrote his first compositions. As a young man Johnson became involved in the music scene of Kansas City by participating in several local groups. His musical ability led him to proficiency on other instruments as well: guitar, violin, banjo, and mandolin. Although he had classical training, he always preferred popular music of the day. Clearly a prodigy, he was playing a neighbor’s piano by age six and began studying classical piano, harmony, and music theory a few years later. BiographyĬharles Johnson was born in the Armourdale district of Kansas City, Kansas to James R. He wrote more than the other three combined and exemplified a greater range of talent, composing waltzes, tangos, cakewalks, marches, novelty pieces, and other types of music popular at that time. Experts believe that had Johnson lived and worked in New York, he would be included alongside Scott Joplin, James Scott, and Joseph Lamb as one of the greatest ragtime composers. His best selling piece, a sentimental ballad called "Sweet and Low", sold over a million copies. He published over 300 songs in his life, nearly 40 of them ragtime compositions such as "Doc Brown’s Cakewalk", "Dill Pickles", "Apple Jack (Some Rag)", and "Snookums Rag". He was born in Kansas City, Kansas, died in Kansas City, Missouri, and lived his entire life in those two cities. I will endeavor to answer all queries within 24 hours.Charles Leslie Johnson (Decem– December 28, 1950) was an American composer of ragtime and popular music. Much is not covered in these pages, it is a massively extensive subject, but if you have specific questions or an inquiry that you cannot find the answer for (and it's player related), drop me a note in the 'Submit Player questions' section of this site. Removing the ghost from the machine: This site seeks to de-mystify the player piano, by explaining in plain language the history, structure, theory and inner working of the machine. Learning to control the expression of the machine, by using the hand controls and stylised pedalling, will reward you time and time again, with each new performance. This result is within the capacity of every player piano, no matter how expensive or cheap it may have been originally and it matters little if it is an 88 note standard, or a reproducing machine.
Powder rag player piano full#
To restore one of these instruments back to full working condition, is a wonderful accomplishment, with rewards that can last for many decades.īuilt for no other reason than to bring the sheer joy of piano music into every home, (and make piano companies of the era a large profit), a well played machine, in excellent condition, can be difficult to discern from a talented live pianist at the keys. Many people are discovering the entertainment value and satisfaction of owning and restoring these beautiful and ingeniously built machines. No longer the stuff of cartoons, nor relegated to a back shelf of history. P layer pianos, (aka Automatic, Self-playing and Pianola), reed organs, coin pianos and other mechanical musical instruments are regaining popularity.
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